Feeding, News, Study Group & More

Hummingbird Feeders

Hummingbird Feeders – the best hummingbird feeders of 2016. Top feeder reviews, brands, selection tips and more. Best for attracting & feeding hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds are some of the most fascinating creatures on earth. These tiny birds might have a memory like an elephant (they actually remember every single flower and feeder they have been to!) but their metabolism is about a hundred times that of the ten thousand pound giants. Which explains why they need to eat every 15 minutes in order to maintain the energy to thrive and survive.

When you want the pleasure of viewing these amazing birds in action, then you need to make sure you get one of the top feeders in the market. By providing the hummingbirds in your area with a place to perch and feed, you’ll enjoy their company for years to come. Here is a list of the top 15 hummingbird feeders to get your tiny bird oasis started.

Top 15 Hummingbird Feeder Reviews of 2016

This USA built feeder uses red to attract even the most curious of hummingbirds. It has ten flower heads and holds a whopping 32oz of delicious nectar. Because of the large basin, you can easily clean, fill, and handle the feeder with no hassle. Plus it has a moat surrounding the base to collect ants that are drawn to the sugar.

Don’t let the fact that this is an older model keep you from appreciating its value! With 30oz to fill with nectar, hummingbirds will be thrilled with your choice. The clear container makes it easy to monitor food levels, and the hanging mechanism is included.

This absolutely gorgeous feeder will wow your hummingbird community. The glass is made with recycled materials and the Decanter style top easily detaches for filling. This design makes it simple to clean, thus keeping away pesky bees and bugs that are attracted to hummingbird nectar.

You can’t go wrong with this crafty looking feeder for hummingbirds. There are 8 feeding portals and the base is simple to clean and fill. The splashes of red on the glass reservoir give it that eye-appeal, making it easy for hummingbirds to spot it.

Being rated as one of the best window feeders is only part of makes this nectar-holder worth it. You have the option of using, or not using, the ant moat. It holds 8oz of hummingbird food and has three feeding flower ports. Once you put this on your window to enjoy the magic of hummingbirds, you’ll wonder why you didn’t get one sooner.

Noted as one of the most affordable hummingbird feeders, it also brings you quality and size. Get ready to make 32 ounces of nectar at a time because the 10 feeding flowers that surround the base are going to fill up with hummingbirds pretty quick. The two-part base is patented and simple to clean and fill. Plus, it has the addition of a sealing ring so you won’t have to worry about nectar leaks that bugs and bees love.

This Stokes Select is the highest-ranking feeder at 5 stars! The modern and sleek style makes it fun to look at, and its steel base makes it strong and lasting. Plus, the 24 ounces of nectar will stay put because of the leak resistant seal. We give it bonus points for that!

With qualities like hand-painted glass, bee resistant feeding flowers, and an ant moat, you just can’t go wrong with this feeder. It holds 8oz of nectar and catches the eyes of even the most stubborn hummingbirds.

Even when the hummingbirds aren’t surrounding this feeder, you will love to look at it. The crystallized design of the glass catches the light and the hummingbird’s attention. The beautifully crafted copper base makes cleaning and filling a breeze. Don’t miss out on this fantastic addition to your hummingbird oasis.

The antique bottle made of red hardened glass sets this feeder apart from the rest. It has 4 flower feeding portals that lay on the beautiful silver base. The base is simple to remove for cleaning once the hummingbirds devour the food, and it is easy to refill with 24 ounces of nectar.

If you want to keep the bees out, test the fantastic bee guards this feeder offers. It’s finished with brushed copper and holds 12oz of delicious nectar that hummingbirds crave. Plus it comes with a free nectar packet when you purchase!

This quaint feeding device has four gorgeous feeding ports and a lovely sea green glass bottle that holds 10oz of nectar. The attached metal grip makes it a breeze to hang and the silver notes make it a joy to look at.

With an attractive bottle design, a dishwasher safe feeder, and five elegant feeding flower portals, hummingbirds will happily flutter to this nectar holder. While the metal parts do require to be washed by hand, you will be pleased with the outstanding performance of this lovely feeder.

The swirled glass of the design will catch the sunlight perfectly and call all breeds of hummingbirds straight to your yard. The large mouth makes it easy to fill with 12oz of nectar, and it’s simple to clean. The matching top and base are both brushed with a stylish copper finish. It’s a perfect addition to anyone’s hummingbird community.

Selecting a Hummingbird Feeder

Now that you have been exposed to some of the top hummingbird feeding devices in the market, you might wonder which one is going to be best for you. One of the first things you’ll want to consider is how easy they are to clean. You’ll be cleaning and refilling them once every two to four days. The hotter the weather is, the more frequently you will want to change the nectar so it doesn’t spoil. You should find one that easily unscrews and allows you to access the feeding portals.

Also, if you are at the beginning of building your hummingbird community, a red feeder is going to be your best option since it attracts new visitors. If you decide to get multiple feeders, you’ll want to spread them out because these tiny birds are very territorial when it comes to their food. Another consideration to make is if you want special features such as an ant moat or bee guards.

You can also decide whether or not you want to have a feeder with a perch. Of course flowers and honeysuckles in nature do not offer perches, so this is going to be up to your own personal preference.

Types of Hummingbird Feeders

While there are many different styles of feeders to choose from, there are really two main designs. An inverted feeder has a vertical bottle or tube that holds the nectar, and then a horizontal basin that has the feeding portals attached to it. This style of hummingbird feeder is often easier for birds to spot, and can hold larger amounts of nectar.

The basin-design feeding device will run horizontally and looks like a Frisbee or disc. These are easy to clean because they have fewer working parts, and many of them are dishwasher safe. Once again, it is really up to your personal preference. If you want to know which one you will like the best, test both styles out.

Hummingbird Feeder Materials

When selecting feeders, pay attention to the materials they are made from. Cleaning them is going to be an important element to factor into your decision. Many prefer glass because it is easy to soak in warm water and doesn’t require the attention that plastic does. If you do select a plastic feeder, check to see if it is UV stable and made with food grade plastic.

Look at the label so you know if the materials are dishwasher safe. You’ll also want to make sure that any pieces such as hangers and bases that are composed of metal, are resilient to rusting. Remember, your feeding device should be able to withstand the natural elements such as rain, wind, and sunlight.

Top Hummingbird Feeder Brands

It can be overwhelming to find the best brands of hummingbird feeders with so many on the market. However, there are a few that set themselves above the rest. Stokes Select has some of the highest rated feeders on the market because of the durability and quality they offer.

First Nature provides a wide range of feeder options and has perfected an easy to clean product.

Perky-Pet is another top brand that has everything you need to get your hummingbird community started, and thriving. Their collection of feeders are elegant, but also extremely functional, making them a fantastic choice.

More Birds is one of the best feeder brands on the market. They offer you unique styles that will not only please the birds, but will look great in your yard. They offer vintage and antique designs, as well as more traditional styles. They are easy to clean and refill on a regular basis.

History of Hummingbird Feeders

While avid bird-watchers have been paying attention to these tiny creatures for decades, feeding hummingbirds through a commercial device did not come about until around 1950. The design was by Laurence Webster and was produced by a glassblower at the MIT lab. Laurence made the feeder for his wife, who was fascinated to learn from a National Geographic that you could feed hummingbirds in your own backyard.

While there had been publications in the past about feeding these birds with a sweet nectar through artificial flowers since the 1800’s, these were handmade by hummingbird lovers. It was the publications of John James Audubon that really brought awareness about feeding hummingbirds at home.

Hummingbird Feeder Cleaning Tips

We all know that sugar water can be a sticky mess, and in hot weather it can get downright gross. That is why it is so important, if you want to keep hummingbirds coming back to your yard, that you keep feeders clean. Try to avoid using soap when possible, and stick to a hot tap water. One every month or two, you can make a bleach solution of one gallon water and one fourth cup bleach. Soak the feeder, and then scrub it with a brush. Rinse with hot water.

You can also use one part vinegar and two parts water to soak the feeder, and then scrub just as you would with the bleach. Both of these methods will always be safer methods than using soap.

Keeping Bees and Ants away from your feeder

One of the most troublesome parts of having a hummingbird feeder is seeing ants and bees continually swarming it. While you can get feeders that have features that protect them from this, there are a few natural methods you can use.

1. Pay attention to the placement of your feeder. If you find that it is continually being swarmed, you can move the feeder to a new location. Trust me, the hummingbirds will find it, but the bees and ants won’t relocate with them.

2. Offer bees their own feeding attraction nearby. This will give them their own place to eat, and many will leave the feeding device alone.

3. Keep your hummingbird feeder clean! The cleaner you keep your feeder, the less problems you will have with ants and bees because the nectar will stay in the feeder, and not splash outside of it.

4. Use fishing line to hang up your feeder. Ants can’t climb this as easily, and be sure that you hang the feeder as far as you can off of a tree branch or gutter.